The commentary continues...

The 75th General Convention is over, but the commentary has only just begun. Thankfully, with the advent of the blog, millions of trees and a portion of the ozone layer will be saved as a result.

Depending on what side of the issues you find yourself, Titusonenine has a good grasp from the conservative side, and Thinking Anglicans takes the liberals by the hand.

However, as I mentioned earlier, if you're the 99% of us who fill trapped in the middle AKMA's random thoughts are right on the mark!

General Convention adjorns

If you haven't heard already, the 75th General Convention adjorned this evening. The blogs and commentary are already flying about. Both the liberals and the conservatives are angry and making bold statements about the future.

My response to all of this is to remember we belong to Christ Jesus! If you chose to operate the way the world does, you will be judged for it. This is not a win/loose moment. When one part of the body suffers, all suffer. What is needed now as always is prayer and reconciliation. We must demand that of ourselves and our leadership in the Church--both liberals and conservative alike and the rest of the 99% of us who find ourselves squeezed in the middle.

Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy Catholic Church. Fill it
with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt,
purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is
amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in
want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake
of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen.

All the news that's fit to print...

I wanted to give a link to the Episcopal News Service and their coverage of General Convention. You can check it out here.

Meeting our New Primus...

I know, I know. We don't use the word Primus in The Episcopal Church. But the word Primate has a few connotations in our modern age. The word Primus comes from the Latin phrase primus inter pares, which means first among equals. Our sisters and brothers in the Scottish Episcopal Church use the term...so why can't we. I like it better than Presiding Bishop also, because some of the little authority given the Presiding Bishop is to preside over the House of Bishop--and that is a whole other entry.

On June 18, the bishop of Nevada, the Rt. Rev'd. Katharine Jefferts Schori was elected as the 26th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church. She will be instituted on November 4th, at Washington National Cathedral. She will succeed the Most Rev'd. Frank Griswold-shown seated in the picture-as Presiding Bishop upon her investiture. Information about Bishop Schori can be found here.

Lambeth Commision Report

Discussion in the House of Bishops turned to how our collective response to the Lambeth Commision report will look. There has been comment and speculation ad naseum on this issue, but today I found a fresh look at this over on Fr. Clavier's blog via my friend Nick's blog (his link is in the left hand tool bar titled "entangled states.") Check out the story here.

Early days of GC 2006

We just concluded day 3 of legislation here at General Convention. I have been working each day as a page in the House of Bishops. It has been enjoyable. It has also been somewhat of an inspirational moment. From an inside perspective, the level of generosity and collegiality has been very heartening.

The Bishops and Deputies are taking seriously their work. And the spirit of unity seems to be rising to the top of all the ministry being done here in Columbus.
As I type this, Larry King Live is playing in the background, and it might seem from those on the ouside as it does to those on the TV show that the only thing we are discussing here is sex. But that simply isn't true.

It is my hope and prayer is that the spirit of God will transform our hearts and minds and renew our desire for mission and evangelism and service in our community.

I will try to check in from time to time. But for up to the minute information on what is going on, check on our diocesan website.